Lizzie

During our time working together, I learned a lot about his wife. How she loved to cook and she baked the best treats around the holidays (it was HER fault that John’s pants were a little tighter than normal ). I heard about how she kept him in line, loved her family fiercely and took in as many of the feral cats she could from her neighborhood so they didn’t freeze in the blistering winters of upstate NY. And I learned that she had fallen ill with a bad heart and needed surgery. After her surgery, she recovered but needed to live a slower, easier life, but you better believe she still found the time and energy to make her holiday goodies, help the feral cats and love her family big.

Sadly, one year ago I learned that she had succumbed to her illness and left this world, taking with her a big piece of the hearts of her family, including of course my friend John.

Another thing I learned about John’s wife is that she and he had an affinity for Samoyeds. They had several over the years and I was so excited to see that Dog Ranch Rescue was able to save 2 from auction, 1 male and 1 female. The male they sent to a rescue that saves Samoyeds frequently and knows all about the breed and the female they decided to send to Anna. This was the first Samoyed they have rescued and I couldn’t wait to call John and tell him about her, hoping that he might consider adopting her. Then, I read her name. Lizzie. They named her Lizzie. John’s beloved wife’s name was Liz. It was fate.

I told John all about her and sent pictures. He wasn’t ready to adopt a dog. He still has those (not so) feral (anymore) cats in the house, and he promised his Liz that he would always care for them. It didn’t feel right to, in a way, take their home away by bringing in a dog who might scare them or make them uncomfortable. After we spoke, he reached out to his daughter, Jennifer, who said “we have to get that dog!”

So, one day before the anniversary of Liz’s death, her daughter flew to Texas to meet the fluffiest, sweetest most beautiful Samoyed I’ve ever seen (so what if it’s the first I’ve ever seen!) and take her home to upstate NY where she’ll live on 23 acres with her new mama and 2 fur brothers, Rocky and Stormy, have the best Grandpaw, John, and keep her name Lizzie as a tribute the woman who broke so many hearts only because she had to leave this world too soon.